Furnace for melting metals, glass, and the like.



L; LE B. MOUNT. FURNACE FOR MELTING METALS, GLASS, AND THE LIKE. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 8, 1908.

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APPLIOATION FILED LUG. 8

L. LE B. MOUNT. FURNACE FOR MELTING METALS, GLASS, .AND THE LIKE. APPLIUATION FILED AUG. 8, 190B.

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Patented Mar. 28, '1911.

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LAMBTON LE BRETON MOUNT, OF BAYSWATER, LONDON, ENGLAND.

FURNACE FOR MELTING- METALS GLASS, AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 8, 1908. Serial No. 447,596.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Lurn'row LnBnn'roN hlonrz'r, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at Bayswater, in the county of London, England, have invented Improvements in Furnaces for Melting lletals, Glass, and the Like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to furnaces for melting metals, glass or the like and for roasting or calcining ores, salt cake, or the like and other purposes.

Main objects of this invention are to obtain economy of fuel by an improved arungement and construction of the parts of such furnaces, to obtain a higher temperature with the same expenoiture of fuel than is possible with the heretofore usual construction of furnaces, to provide an improved construction of recuperator comprised in such furnaces, and to provide improved means for taking up thrust due to expansion upon adjacent abutting work such as the crown of the furnace and end walls thereof.

Figure 1 of the accompanying illustrative drawings shows in longitudinal section corresponding to the line A, B of Fig. 2 one construction of glass melting tank furnace embodying this invention. Fig. 2 is a hori zontal section corresponding to the line C D of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a half transverse section of the furnace corresponding to the line E F of Fig. 1. Fig. at is a transverse section of the furnace the right hand half corresponding to the line G H and the left hand half corresponding to the line I J of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detail View to a larger scale showing in side elevation a portion of the recuperator wall built up of paneled tiles one of which is shown in section in Fig. 6. Fig. 7 is a detail view to a larger scale showing an end portion of the furnace crown and adjacent parts.

A glass melting furnace is only taken as an example and it will be understood that the construction and shape of the tank or basin may be altered in form according to the varying uses for which the furnace is designed.

The furnace is built on a suitable concrete base (1. immediately above which is a series of air fines b that prevent the bottom of the tank from getting too hot, through which the recuperator 0 is supplied with the necessary air to be hi -lily heated for the furnace. For the purpose of regulating the supply of air to the fines Z) steam jets with valves, not shown, are arranged at the entrance of the fines.

The sides f and the ends 9 of the tank are built in their proper places on the bottom or base a. 2' is a passage through which air can pass in order to keep cool and preserve the inner end 9 through wear. Above the side blocks f and under the spring of the crown h of the furnace proper are built the side walls is with the necessary provision for gathering holes m and other ports 11..

At one side of the tank is a conduit 9 for conveniently supplying the tank with the material to be melted.

Each end of the crown h abuts against a series of flat tiles g and t built on the gable ends 7 of the furnace to the same thickness and contour as the crown. These courses of flat tiles 9 and t are so laid, side by side, on the gable as to provide spaces 8 between their inner ends, tiles a covering the spaces otherwise left between the adjacent ends of the tiles 9 and 5.

To prevent the tiles fusing together or sticking, sand or other suitable material is spread between the courses of the tiles thereby enabling them to yield easily to the expansion of the crown It which partially diminishes the spaces 8 between the tiles 1 and t without unsealing the work and without in any way disturbing or deranging the adj aceut brickwork and recuperator. Should the furnace cool, the consequent shrinkage is taken up by adjustment of the usual longitudinal tie bracing as well understood, and on rte-heating and re-expansion taking place, the tie bracing is eased accordingly, the structural work remaining at all times undisturbed.

At a suitable height above the crown h and of the same contour another crown 1 is built so as to leave a part annular space 2 that forms a passage for the highly heated air which before being heated enters the recuperator at 4 and leaves it at 5. From the passage 2 the hot air flows through crown ports 6 into the combustion chamber 7 At a suitable height above the second crown 1 is built a third crown 8 so as to form a second annular passage 10 for the waste gases which enter the recuperator Patented Mar. 28, 1911.

when it becomes thin from the furnace tl'irough passages 11 and leave it at 12 whence they flow along the top of the recuperator to vertically ascending ports 13 into the annular passage 10 to the down fines 14 and thence to a ground fine 15 to be further utilized if necessary and thence to a chimney, not shown.

The recuperator 0 is built contiguous to the inner end of the tank on a supporting arch. 16. it consists of a series of vertical flues 1". through which the hot waste gases pass horizontally and impart heat to the walls 18. The walls 18 separating the tines 17 are hollow and inside them the whole of the air necessary for the combustion of the gas supplied by the pipe 20 travels the opposite or reverse way to the hot waste gases, acquiring in its course the major portion of the heat from the walls. The walls 18 are built of angular tiles Figs. 5 and 6, of material which. is highly refractory and not liable to expand much when heated, such tiles being laid diagonally in oblique courses, so as to keep their joints closed by gravity while enablii'ig them to slide one upon the other in an upward direction, see Fig. 5. The walls 19 against which the ends of the hollow walls 18 of the recuperator abut are substantial walls formed of wedge shaped bricks, and to resist upward thrust due to expanison of the recuperator the upper part of each such wall is formed as an inverted arch 21, see Figs. 3 and' t, external ties of usual form being provided. The tiles 22 are paneled, thus reducing their thickness without reducing the area of their hearing faces. The thinness of the panels facilitates the transmission of heat from the hot waste gases to the passing air. The bearing faces of each tile are formed with grooves to receive suitable material whereby the joints are more effectually sealed.

From the recuperator the highly heated air travels along the top of the crown 71- of the furnace, within the partannular passage 2 formed by the second crown 1, to the place of combustion thereby increasing the temperature of combustion to a great degree. This increased temperature in turn increases the heat of the furnace and of the recuperator, which further increases the heat of the air traveling therein, and of the flame; the action being automatically self-augmenting, and giving very high economical results.

The foregoing satisfactory results are further assisted by the fact that the highly heated air from the recuperator does not lose heat by radiation on its way to the fire as it travels on the top of the heated crown of the furnace, and is covered by the waste heat part-annular passage 10. Also heat is not lost by radiation from the crown proper, as in other furnaces, because it is protected by the highly heated air traveling thereon within the first part-annular passage 2.

It has heretofore been proposed to construct a dome-topped furnace with three superimposed crowns between which air and products of combustion are led; rectangular tank furnaces have also been proposed with three superimposed crowns between which dues of less width than the crowns are formed for the circulation of air and prodnets of combustion. As far as I am aware in all these constructions comparatively cool air for supporting combustion has been led through the lower passages, that is to say those nearest the combustion chamber; this arrangement tends to cool the furnace chamber, whereas in the improved furnace the air is highly heated before passing into the lower crown passages and so tends to increase the temperature in the furnace chamber as hereinbefore described.

Hitherto the only partially successful attempts to thoroughly utilize the simple action of reverse currents of recuperation, is clearly attributable to the expansion by heat, thrusting and warping the work, and opening the joints between the bricks, or oracle ing the same, with the consequent mingling of the currents and thwarting of the objects desired.

The above disadvantages are avoided by the hereinbefore described improved method of arranging the tiles in the recuperator, which seal the oints by gravity.

i hat I claim is 1. Tu a furnace, the arrangement between abutting parts thereof that move relatively upon expansion and contraction, of tiles adapted to slide one over the other without disturbing the furnace parts when expansion occurs and means to prevent said tiles sticking.

In a furnace, a tank or chamber, a crown or top to said tank or chamber, end walls, tiles, between said end walls and said crown or top, arranged to slide one over the other without disturbing the furnace parts when expansion occurs.

3. In a furnace, a tank or chamber, a crown or top to said tank or chamber, end walls, tiles, between said end Walls and said crown or top, arranged to slide one over the other without disturbing the furnace parts when expansion occurs, and means to prevent said tiles sticking.

4:. In a furnace, a tank or chamber, a recuperator, means for admitting cool air to said rccuperator, conduits through which hot gases from said tank or chamber pass to said recuperator, a crown over said tank or chamber formed with two part annular passages of approximately the full width thereof arranged one over the other, conduits through which gases from said recuperator flow to the outer of the two passages of said crown, an exit flue for spent gases, conduits between the outer of the two passages of said crown and said fiue, conduits through which heated air is led from said recuperator to the inner of the two passages of said crown, and conduits through which heated air from the inner of the two passages of said crown flows to said tank or chamber.

5. In a furnace, a tank or chamber, a recuperator means for admitting cool air to said recuperator, conduits through which hot gases from said tank or chamber pass to said recuperator, a crown over said tank or chamber formed with two part annular passages of approximately the full width thereof arranged one over the other, tiles against which the ends of said crown abut laid in courses side by side with spaces between their adjacent ends, other tiles covering the spaces between the adjacent ends of said tiles, means to prevent all said tiles sticking, conduits through which gases from said recuperator flow to the outer of the two passages of said crown, an exit flue for spent gases, conduits between the outer of the two passages of said crown and said flue, conduits through which heated air is led from said recuperator to the inner of the two passages of said crown, and conduits through which heated air from the inner of the two passages of said crown flows to said tank or chamber.

6. In a furnace, a tank or chamber, a recuperator, means for admitting cool air to said recuperator, conduits through which hot gases from said tank or chamber pass to said recuperator, a crown over said tank or chamber formed with two part annular passages of approximately the full width thereof arranged one over the other, tiles against which the ends of said crown abut laid in courses side by side with spaces between their adjacent ends, other tiles covering the spaces between the adjacent ends of said tiles, means to prevent all said tiles sticking, bracing for adjustment in accordance with ex- )dIlSlOD and contraction, conduits through which gases from said recuperator flow to the outer of the two passages of said crown, an exit flue for spent gases, conduits between the outeraof the two passages of said crown and said flue, conduits through which heated air is led from said recuperator to the inner of the two passages of said crown, and conduits through which heated air from the inner of the two passages of said crown flows to said tank or chamber.

7. In a furnace, a recuperator the walls of which are built of tiles placed diagonally in oblique courses, said tiles being capable of sliding one upon the other, means for admitting cool air to said recuperator, conduits through which hot gases from said tank or chamber pass to said recuperator, a crown over said tank or chamber formed with two part annular passages of approximately the full width thereof arranged one over the other, conduits through which gases from said recuperator flow to the outer of the two passages of said crown, an exit flue for spent gases, conduits between the outer of the two passages of said crown and said flue, conduits through which heated air is led from said recuperator to the inner of the two passages of said crown, and conduits through which heated air from the inner of the two passages of said crown flows to said tank or chamber.

8. In a furnace, a recuperator the walls of which are built of tiles placed diagonally in oblique courses, said tiles being capable of sliding one upon the other, means for admitting cool air to said recuperator, conduits through which hot gases from said tank or chamber pass to said recuperator, a crown over said tank or chamber formed with two part annular passages of approximately the full width thereof arranged one over the other, tiles against which the ends of said crown abut laid in courses side by side with spaces between their adjacent ends, other tiles covering the spaces between the adjacent ends of said tiles, means to prevent all said tiles sticking, conduits through which gases from said recuperator flow to the outer of the two passages of said crown, an exit flue for spent gases, conduits between the uter of the two passages of said crown and said flue, conduits through which heated air is led from said recuperator to the inner of the two passages of said crown, and conduits through which heated air from the inner of the two passages of said crown flows to said tank or chamber.

9. In a furnace, a recuperator the walls of which are built of tiles placed diagonally in oblique courses, said tiles being 'capable of sliding one upon the other, means for admitting cool air to said recuperator, conduits through which hot gases from said tank or chamber pass to said recuperator, a crown over said tank or chamber formed with two part annular passages of approximately the full width thereof arranged one over the other, tiles against which the ends of said crown abut laid in courses side by side with spaces between their adjacent ends, other tiles covering the spaces between the adjacent ends of said tiles, means to prevent all said tiles sticking, bracing for adjustment in accordance with expansion and contraction, conduits through which gases from said recuperator flow to the outer of the two passages of said crown, an exit flue for spent gases, conduits between the outer of the two passages of said crown and said flue, conduits through which heated air is led from said recuperator to the inner of the two passages of said crown, and conduits mitt.

through which heated air from the inner oi the two passages of said crown flows to said tank or chamber.

10. In a -furnace, a tank or chamber, a recuperatoii' in line with said tank or chamber the walls of which are built of tiles placed diagonally in oblique courses, said tiles being capable of sliding one upon the other, conduits below said tank or chamber for cool air flowing to said recuperator, a conduit above said tank or crown, adapted to lead hot air from said recuperator to said tank or chamber, a combustible gas supply conduit to said tank or chamber, an exit fine, a conduit above said hot air conduit adapted to lead the heating gases from said recuper ator to said exit flue, and passages for hot gases connecting said tank or furnace to said I'CCLlPGlZItOl'.

11. In a furnace, a tank or chamber, a recuperator in line with said tank or chamber the walls of which are built of tiles placed diagonally in oblique courses, said tiles being capable of sliding one upon the other, end walls supporting the recuperator walls built of wedge shaped bricks, means adapted to retain said walls in position, conduits below said tank or chamber for cool air flowing to said reeuperator, a conduit above said tank or crown adapted to lead hot air from said reeuperator to said tank or chamber, a combustible gas supply conduit to said tank or chamber, an exit flue, a conduit above said hotair conduit adapted to lead the heating gases from said recuperator to said exit fine, and passages for hot gases connecting said tank or furnace to said reeuperator.

12. In a furnace, a tank or chamber, a

recuperator in line with said tank or Chitllb' ber the walls of which are built out tiles placed diagonally in oblique courses, said tiles being capable of sliding one upon the other, end walls supporting the recuperator walls built of wedge shaped bricks, inverted arches and cross ties adapted to retain said end walls in position, conduits below said tank or chamber for cool air flowing to said recuperator, a conduit above said tank or crown adapted to lead hot air from said recuperator to said tank or chamber, a combustible gas supply conduit to said tank or chamber, an exit fine, a conduit above said hot air conduit adapted to lead the heating gases from said recuperator to said exit flue, and passages for hot gases connecting said tank or furnace to said recuperator.

Signed at London England this 28th day of July 1908.

LAMBTON LE BRETON lilOUN'l'.

ll itnesses C. VIVIAN GURLEY, H. K. JAMISON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained, for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eatents. Washington, D. C. 

